'One of the best weeks of my life' - Kartal feeling fresh ahead of Wuhan semi-finals
British star Sonay Kartal says she is due a couple of new tattoos after enjoying "one of the best weeks" of her life by reaching the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open.
Sonay Kartal is enjoying incredible run in China following injury-ravaged season; British player takes on Jelena Ostapenko on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Tennis from 10am ; Kartal says she is enjoying "one of the best weeks" of her life
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British star Sonay Kartal says she is due a couple of new tattoos after enjoying "one of the best weeks" of her life by reaching the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open.
Kartal claimed one of the biggest wins of the career as she beat world No 6 Elina Svitolina on Friday .
The 24-year-old, playing in only her third tournament since returning from a back injury, seized her first match-point opportunity to complete another stunning victory.
Kartal, who made her breakthrough by reaching the fourth round of last year's Wimbledon, advanced to the last four of a WTA 1000 event for the first time.
"Definitely one of the best weeks of my life," she said. "You could say, results-wise, that is definitely the best for me so far.
"I'm very happy to be backing up the level each day. I think it's pretty easy for a player to come out and play a blinder for just one match. I'm very happy that I managed to keep the consistency. I've got some of my best wins this week."
Kartal added she is due a couple of new tattoos. She had one booked in but was forced to make a last-minute cancellation after heading to the Billie Jean King Cup with Great Britain.
Asked if she would get one done if she won in Wuhan, the Brighton-based star replied with a smile: "I would have to have a think. I can't make a rush decision."
Kartal, using a protected injury ranking to play, has previously peaked at No 44 in the rankings and started the Wuhan Open at No 170, but she has skyrocketed 83 places to No 87 in the live rankings with her run to the semi-finals.
She is assured of adding 390 points to her total, meaning she is guaranteed to be the new British No 2 behind Katie Boulter (No 58), moving past Fran Jones (No 98) and Emma Raducanu (No 109).
Having missed more than six months, Kartal admitted she would not be able to walk without some form of pain but found it "pretty smooth sailing" after a couple of months.
A protected ranking is a provision that allows tennis players to enter tournaments using a frozen or averaged ranking after a long-term absence from the sport A protected ranking can only be used to gain automatic entry into a tournament's main draw or qualifying rounds On the WTA Tour, it is typically based on their exact ranking at the official start of their absence The player must be physically sidelined and unable to compete in any tennis event for a minimum of six months A protected ranking is not permanent. It is only valid for a specific timeframe or a limited number of tournaments
"My back is great," Kartal said. "I wouldn't have made the return if it wasn't great.
"I think the body is feeling it having not played a tennis match for six months, and when you're on tour, your body gets used to the aches and pains and demands of matches each week. I'm definitely more sore in areas.
"I think if there's one thing I've learned in the six months - it's sometimes patience is the better option. And the heroic thing to do is not play every single week. I feel great and I'm ready to get going for the remainder of the year."
She'll next face Latvian world No 34 Jelena Ostapenko , who beat Diana Shnaider in her quarter-final.
The pair have met twice before, with both matches coming on grass in the space of six days in June 2025 - Ostapenko won at Eastbourne, but then Kartal came out on top at Wimbledon.
"I've enjoyed playing her," said Kartal. "I think we're equal on the scoreboard. But I think there's a level of respect that she shows me.
"She's playing great this week having had a few tough matches, so she's definitely on form. I'm excited for another battle.
"I feel it's going to be a completely different game style to the people that I've played the past few days. I'm ready for a long one if it's needed."
Stream tennis with no contract on NOW and through the Sky Sports App . Watch the WTA Wuhan Open and ATP Shanghai Masters live on Sky Sports until Sunday.
